Lot of headspace in primary

[beauvafr]

I have a 3 gallon beer fermenting for about 4 days in a big 5 gallons bucket.

I always tough headspace was not important for primary, but I am gonna have to keep this beer in the bucket for a long time (maybe 5-6 weeks) since my yeast is very well known to be a slow one (Wyeast 3724)!

Is it a problem?

Should I rack into 3 smalls 1 gallon jugs?

 

[PhillyDave]

No, just leave it. The CO2 from the fermentation should fill that space. You might not get much if any airlock activity, but the amount of CO2 should be enough to force all the oxygen out. As long as you don't have oxygen on the beer, you should be ok.

 

[DrunkleJon]

You will be fine leaving it. Your beer will make plenty of CO2 and evacuate all of the oxygen out of the container. Once that it out as long as you do not remove the lid and disturb the CO2 blanket much you will be fine.

 

[homebrewdad]

Agreed, leave it. Once you start getting bubbles, you know that CO2 is pushing the oxygen out. As long as you don't disturb it, you are fine.

The issues arise when you have unpurged secondaries with lots of headspace.

 

[beauvafr]

Great news!!

But I will have to take samples at some time. Should I avoid it at all cost ?

Anyway.. I think I could wait at least 5 weeks to do so. After that, if the fermentation is not finished, I would also have the option to transfer to a secondary with a shorter headspace, but without leaving the trub to make sure I got all the yeast with the beer.


What do you think?

 

[DrunkleJon]

No. You can take samples. Just remember that CO2 is heavier than air so as long as you are gentle with it you should be good. The less you disturb it the better.